Moving for the Love of it

I don’t do Pilates just to check a box. If I don’t enjoy something, it’s hard for me to keep it up. I’m lucky that Pilates came into my life when I wasn’t able to play soccer, dance, or even run–when I was forced to stop some of the activities that had always been a big part of my identity. But Pilates more than filled a void. Pilates taught me about my body and helped me rehab my knee. It challenged me in all kinds of ways and I was excited to go to every class–like many of you, often two in a row! When I was eventually able to get back on the soccer pitch, and onto the tennis court, I didn’t let go of Pilates because it had become an essential part of my life.

Summer is the time of year when I want to fill my cup–I want to be outside, be as active as possible, and soak up that Vitamin D. And this summer I’m in training mode, so I’m trying to mix up my workouts, improve my cardiovascular strength, and bullet-proof my knees and hips for our next big trek. I’m also going back to the beginning and studying the Mat and Reformer Pilates repertoire exercise by exercise. Even after more than a decade of teaching, there are always little things to remember, and it’s good to feel them in my body so I know how to express them to you as an instructor.

I’ve heard that adage that you should never take something you love and try to turn it into a career because it sucks the joy out of it. While I would say that there have been times in my work life when I was burnt out and needed a change, I have never found Pilates boring. The variety and the difficulty at times always keeps me coming back for more. I take classes and keep up a personal practice because at the end of each session, I feel exhilarated! And let’s face it, there are exercises that I always look forward to because they feel amazing. What are your favourite exercises?

This month Retrofit Pilates is highlighting some of our favourite exercises and the reasons we love them. Making time to move your body is important for your physical and mental health, and if you’re choosing to do Pilates, here’s hoping you do it for the love of it!

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See you in class!

Pam Ferguson
Retrofit Master Instructor
Lead Instructor/Operations Associate